PARISH NEWS

REFORMATION DAY

October 31^st

God’s purpose for us never changes, but we are peculiarly adept at confusing His purposes and persuading ourselves that our bent purpose is identical with God’s. Boasting "We are the heirs of Luther" is not necessarily far removed from saying, "We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone." (John 8:33) We may remain slaves to sin even as we gather around God’s grace. Reformation is not a onetime thing that spreads its mantle inevitably over those who celebrate it; reformation is a daily necessity for the church’s life with God. God is never faithless, but we have been faithless again and again. Reformation is not a time for boasting of our superiority but of giving thanks that God, ever and again, invites His people to repent, rely on grace, and be renewed in Him.

The true Abrahamite has God’s covenant written on the heart. The true Abrahamite does not view the covenant as a matter of obligations and payments but as a gift of grace. Those in bondage to sin only enmesh themselves when they seek to break that bondage "by observing the law" (Romans 3:20). The shackles of sin can only be struck off by the Lord of the Law. "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:22-24)

The reception of grace is at the heart of "the new covenant." God did not give to His people in ancient time an earned covenant and then replace it with the principle of grace. The newness is found in the fulfillment of God’s intentions through Christ’s Passover and in the radical renewal of the human heart made possible by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for God has forgiven our wickedness and has set aside our sins in the light of Christ’s sacrifice made for us (Jeremiah 31:34). Christ’s Passover completed the work begun when God led His people by the hand through the sea out of Egypt. We, too, have been taken by the hand to live by the river of God "whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells" (Psalm 46:4). Our liturgy celebrates the peace that is ours. When we say to one another, "Peace be with you," we invoke the salvation of God, for the old enemies – the devils, the world, and our sinful self – are being destroyed for our sakes. God remains forever the refuge and strength of His people (Psalm 46:1, 8-9).

On Saturday October 31^st at our 5:30 pm service we will celebrate the divine Service with a special focus of the Reformation. We will gather around God’s grace in Word and Sacrament as we receive again from God His grace and blessing.

On Sunday November 1^st the Divine Service will center around All Saints Day and the eternal hope that we have and share with those who have gone before us in faith.

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¯ A MUSIC NOTE¯

When Martin Luther was asked to recant his writings, he firmly held to the authority of Scripture and refused to recant saying, "Here I stand.  God help me!  Amen." 

God calls each of us to "STAND!"   Ephesians 6 says, "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…"

The hymn that first comes to mind in reference to this passage is - "Stand Up, Stand Up, For Jesus"  (LSB 660).  The hymn was written as a result of a very strange set of circumstances.  Dudley Tyng was pastor of the Church of the Covenant in Philadelphia in the 1850’s.  On March 30, 1858, he addressed a huge gathering of over 5000 men at the local YMCA.  He told them, "I would rather that my arm were cut off, than I should refrain from sharing God’s Word with you."  The following week he went into his barn where a mule was turning a machine to shell corn.  His sleeve got caught up in the cogs of the wheel and within a few days his right arm was amputated at the shoulder.  Due to the great loss of blood and shock, Dudley Tyng died on April 19.  His fleeting words to those around him were, "Stand up for Jesus.  Tell my brothers in the ministry to stand up for Jesus."

Rev. George Duffield of Philadelphia’s Temple Presbyterian Church was so stirred by the death of Rev. Tyng that he wrote a poem for his sermon the following Sunday.  It began with the famous words, "Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross…"  Soon music editor George Webb got news of the poem and put it to the tune of a secular song titled, "Tis Dawn, the Lark is Singing."  

            Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;

God gives us His strength to STAND – to stand up against the devil’s schemes, to stand firm with the belt of His Truth and His full Gospel armor.  Praise God we can STAND UP, STAND UP for Jesus for He has won the battle for us!

Denise Hennig

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LADIES AID -We have resumed our monthly meetings. Ladies Aid meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 1 pm. October’s meeting is on Tuesday October 20^th. We invite the ladies of the congregation to join us.

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LWML - Our Concordia LWML Group is up and running. The meetings will be on the 3^rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Our October meeting will be Thursday October 15^th.

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Did You Know?

Originally when Concordia School opened in 1931, benches were placed in the parsonage at 2845 S. 14^th Street. Classes were held there in the home of our first pastor, Rev. Young until the new church & School building at 3000 S. 13^th St. was built. The surrounding area was known as the "Cabbage Patch"

WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY – meets each Wednesday morning at 10 am in the Heritage Room.

ADULT INFORMATION CLASS – The class meets Thursday evenings at 7 pm. This is a Catechetical Instruction Class for those wishing to know more about Concordia and what we believe, teach, and confess. It is also good for members to review these things as well.

SUNDAY SCHOOL – for children Preschool through High School meets at 9 am each Sunday. Bring your children, the neighbors’ children, your friends’ children so that they can hear the awesome news of God’s love for them in sending Jesus Christ to be their Savior.

SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS -We meet in the Heritage Room at 9 am each Sunday morning. Please join us as we study God’s Word together.

Baptisms 08/15/2009 Lacey Lain L.

daughter of Tad & Tammy L

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So who are our shut-ins and what is our response to/for them? Our shut-ins here at Concordia consist of those who are, due to any number of reasons from age to health, unable to get out of the house or nursing home for worship or activities. They are a part of our Concordia family and we would be well encouraged to keep them continually in our prayers and perhaps even send a card, letter, or make a phone call or a visit to say we care and you are not forgotten. Share God’s peace with them.  Please contact the church office for a list of the shut-ins.

 

That we may grow together as God’s people.

WE NEED TO WORK AT KEEPING OUR MONEY IN SUBJECTION AND NOT LET IT BECOME OUR MASTER.

"No one can serve two masters. Either he

will hate the one and love the other, or he

will be devoted to the one and despise the

other. You cannot serve both God and

Money" (Matthew 6:24).

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Date / Worship / Gen. Fund Receipts

September 6^th / 76 + 95 = 171 / $ 14,851.50

September 13^th / 44 + 163 = 207 / $ 8,880.16

September 20^th / 62 + 125 = 187 / $ 7,661.51

(The weekly budget need is $ 11,516.84)

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The Importance of Trust

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In upcoming newsletters, I will be sharing some thoughts about the things that I took away from the Doxology. These are things that I hope will help our church to grow as a family. Please read them and let myself or Pastor Hennig know if you have any questions.

Who’s Doing What ????

[Back to Table of Contents]

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The Skating Party – has been rescheduled for Monday, Oct 26^th from 6-8pm at Skateland South

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LUTHERAN COMMUNITY NEWS

OKTOBERFEST – On Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 4 pm until 7:30 pm Trinity Lutheran Church in Arenzeville, IL will be hosting "Octoberfest". This event will featured the Muddy River German Band, the Slovenia Strollers, children’s yodeling contest and pastors who will sing German folk songs. The menu will include: brats, hot dogs, sauerkraut, red cabbage, German potato salad, desserts and homemade rootbeer.

ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER – Springfield Right to Life will hold the Annual Benefit Dinner & Program on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 6:45 pm at Sangamon Prairie Reception Center, 201 S. Main Street, Rt. 4, Chatham, IL. The evening will feature a silent auction and reception, including hors d’ oeuvres and Jane Hartman at the piano. Dinner is at 6:45 pm followed by a special program including the music of "Sisters of the Son" and keynote speaker, Steven Ertelt, founder and Editor of LifeNews.com. Reservations are: Adults $40 and Students $20. Reservations are due by Friday Oct. 9, 2009. Reservation forms are available in the church office or you may call 523-2700.

Lutheran Catechetical Society invites you to hear… The Rev. Dr. John C. Wohlrabe, Jr., 3^rd Vice President of the LC-MS. His topic – "The Relationship between Theology and Polity in the Missouri Synod" We will meet on Sunday, October 25^th from 3 pm until 8 pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IL. (Maps and registration forms are available on the table in the narthex.) The meeting begins at 3 pm with an LLL Reformation Service, in the Sanctuary, 4:15 pm Registration, 4:30 pm Session I, 5:30 pm Evening Meal, 6:30 pm Session II, 7:30 pm Q/A with Pastor Wohlrabe and 8 pm Closing. Meal cost is Adults $9, Children 4-12 $3 and Children under 4 free.